Clasp for hand-bags.



F. J. QUIGAN.

CLASP FOR HAND BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. Ian.

1,'241,657. Patented Oct. 2,1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT UFF FRANK J. QUIGAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SIMON ZINN INC., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CLASP FOR HAND-BAGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 191 '7.

Application filed February 9, 1917. Serial No. 147,535.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. QUIGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1023 East 2nd street, Brooklyn, county of Kings, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Hand-Bags, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, is a full, clear, and concise description thereof.

This invention relates to a clasp for hand bags, and more particularly to a locking means for preventing the accidental opening of the bag.

It has for its object the provision of a clasp locking means characterized by simplicity of construction and efficiency of operation.

Other objects of the invention will manifest themselves upon a reading of the following description.

While this invention has been set forth in a certain preferred embodiment, it will be understood that modifications may be made without departing from thespirit and scope thereof.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective, partly in section, of a hand bag provided with my improved form of locking means;

Fig. 2 is a plan View, with parts broken away, showing the locking means conditioned to function;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in section with parts broken away showing the position of the resilient engaging member when not functioning;

' Fig. 5 is.a view, similar to Fig. 4, showing the locking member engaging its keeper.

In the hand bag shown in the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the body of a hand bag provided with a frame 2, having sections or hinged members, 3 and 4. Each of the hinged members is U-shaped in cross section, and is likewise U-shaped in general conformation terminating in end extensions adapted to be pivoted together. The frame members 3 and 4: are secured to the body of the bag in any suitable manner, such as glun'ig, riveting, etc. The member 8 1s provided with means suitable to accommodate a strap or carrying member Located at a convenient point, preferably near the center, is a clasp or knob 6, which is so mounted as to be capable of being displaced or tilted baclnvardly so as to permit the disengagement or opening of the frame members 3 and 4:. The mounting of the knob forms no part of my invention, and may be accomplished in any suitable man ner, such as shown in Fig. 3, comprising a resilient member 7 mounted between the side walls of the frame member 3, and projecting through an aperture in the base thereof. This projection is extended far enough to provide a body portion 8, having a U shape, with the end of the short leg thereof secured to the base or edge of the knob 6 at a point diametrically opposite to the aperture in the frame member 3. The center of the body portion 8 is provided with an aperture suitable to accommodate a downwardly projecting stud 9, extending axially from the head of the knob 6. A bur 10 is formed upon the upper surface of the frame member 4, the former being positioned to engage the secured end portion of the flexible member 7. The flexible or resilient member 7 may be mounted in the frame member 3 by any suitable means, which would readily suggest itself to those skilled in the art, such as by a pivot, or like means. The locking means comprises a resilient latching member 12, having one of its ends secured to the base portion of the frame member 4. This may be effected in any desired manner, such as by soldering, swaging, and the like. The secured portion of the member 12 is given a wave-like or corrugated formation for the purpose of reinforcing its mounting and resiliency. The free end of the member 12 is bent slightly downward, and the member is given a downward tension. Positioned beneath the resilient member 12 are apertures 13 adapted to receive projecting members 14 and 15, carried by the frame memberB. The projecting member 15 is provided with a notch in its upper surface suitable to accommodate the free end of the resilient member 12. This projecting member 15 with its notched porother obj sets.

tion functionsasa keeperfor the free end of the latching member 12 When-these parts are permitted to engage.

The latching member 12 is .,fu11'ctioned .by arotatably mounted member 316,;the member 16 being journaled in the side Walls of the frame member 4, and comprises aneXter-ior head portion 17 With a reduced portion 18, .thelatter having a portion of its surface removed so as to form a seat for the intermediate portion of the "latching member 12. The exterior portion 17 of the member 16 is {provided With an aperture into Which is fitted a gripping or operating member 19. This operating member may be of any convenient'design or shape, its chief function being to furnish afmeans for rotating the member 16, and also to facilitate the opening of the hand bag when the knob 9 is bent backward. It Will be noted that forming the recess in {the reduced portion 18 of the members 3" and 4 cannot be separated, or,

inlother Words, these members are firmly locked together, preventing accidental open- ;i ng thereof.

"When it is desired to unlock the hand bag, all that is required is to turn the operating member 19 through an angle sufiicient to effect the disengagement of the latching member 12 from the recess in the reduced portion 18. Asvthis movement takes effect the free end of .the member 12 is gradually raised until it'clears the aperture'i'n the projecting member 15, thus allowing theframe members, '3 and 4, to be opened upon the manipulation of the knob 6. The angle of rotatiolrof the' operating member 19, although not necessarily, is preferably made 180, so that the member '19 will lie'thereon and come into close contact With the body of the bag, thus being less likely to catch on As amatter of convenience one sideof the operating member 19 may be given a designation such as open or close, Which Will assist the owner of the bag in being able to determine at a glance Whether it is in locked or opened condition.

While I have herein shown and' particularly described the' preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not Wish to be limited of said members, a lateral projection-carried upon the other .of said members and providedwith a'rec-ess for the accommodation of said resilient member, and means for effecting the engagement or disengagement of said resilient member with said recess, said means including a rotatably mounted mem berhavi-nga ca-m surface and an operating member for-actuating said rotating member.

2. A clasp for handbags, comprising-m pair of pivoted framemembers .havingQa U- shaped cross section, a resilient latching member mountedivithin the U-shaped portion of one of said members, :an apertua'ein voneof the side Walls .of said member, said aperture being formed'sbeneath the normal position of saidvresilient member, a projection carried upon the other of said members and adapted to entersaidaperture, said projection being providedwith .a recess for the accommodation of said resilient member, and means for efiecting :the engagement or c lisengagemen't of said resilient member with said recess, said means including .a'roltatably mounted member having a cam surface,.:and an operating member for actuating said rotatable member.

8. A clasp for handbags rcomprising a pair of pivoted frame members having .a U-shaped cross sectlon a resilient latching member concealed Within one of said frame members and having one of'its ends secured to the base of the Ll-shaped portion, the free end of said resilient member having .a;-ten- 'sion in a direction awayffrom its support,

an aperture in one ofthe side walls of said frame member, said aperture being. formed beneaththe normal position .of the free end of said resilient member, afprojec'tion .carried upon the other of said frame members and adapted to enter said aperture, said projection being provided with a recess for the accommodation of said resilient memher, and means for effecting the engagement or dlsengagement of SELlCl' re'sllient member with said recess, said means lncluding a rotatably mounted member havin'ganactive and an inactive surfaceadaptedto engage said resilient member, whereby said resilient member is rendered effective when said inactive surface is functioning and ineffective When said active surface is functioning.

FRANK J. UIGANQ P'lks'ples of this patent may 'be obtained 'forIfive cents each, by addressing the ,Conimissioner of Patents,

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